House Hunting

House Hunting

Year: 2006

Runtime: 12 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

AdventureAnimation

A girl goes exploring to find a new house. Along the way, she encounters many of Japan’s guardian spirits.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – House Hunting (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of House Hunting (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

The House on 70 Private Acres

A foreclosed luxury house sits on 70 private acres, offering beauty that borders on trap. The property is secluded and wooded, drawing whispers from the road and inviting curiosity while isolating its occupants. The house itself feels like it has a mind of its own, bending space and time to trap those who enter.

🏡 Secluded estate 🌲 Forested setting 🗝️ Mystery house

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:22

Main Characters – House Hunting (2006)

Meet the key characters of House Hunting (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Charlie Hays

A grieving, protective father whose reality fractures under the house’s pressure. He becomes volatile and controlling, driven by fear and a need to shield his family, culminating in violent actions driven by suspicion and rage.

🧭 Family dynamics 🗡️ Violence

Emmy Hays

Charlie's daughter, scarred by family turmoil and haunted by visions of her mother. She grows into a determined survivor, navigating trauma and betrayal while seeking a way out.

💪 Resilience 🧭 Determination

Susan Hays

Charlie's second wife who seeks a fresh start and a peaceful home. Civil on the surface, she clashes with others under pressure and becomes entangled in the house’s dangerous dynamics.

💔 Tension 🗝️ Secrets

Don Thomson

The Thomsons' patriarch, eager to resolve the crisis and leave the house behind. His practicality and mounting paranoia reveal a protective instinct strained to its limit.

🧭 Family dynamics 🗝️ Secrets

Leslie Thomson

Don's wife, striving for civil calm and safety amidst escalating fear. She embodies a desire for harmony but hints at hidden knowledge about the house.

💫 Calm under pressure 🗝️ Secrets

Jason Thomson

Leslie's live-in son, physically injured and emotionally burdened from a car accident. He carries guilt over a past incident and becomes entangled in the family crisis as the truth surfaces.

🩹 Injury 🕹️ Guilt

Hanna

A mute, traumatized girl who appears along the road and anchors the house’s mystery. Her presence intensifies the unsettling atmosphere and she becomes a victim within the cycle.

😶 Silence 💔 Trauma

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:22

Major Themes – House Hunting (2006)

Explore the central themes of House Hunting (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌀 Time Loop

The film centers on a looping narrative where the road to the house and back repeats, trapping the families in a day that never progresses. Time seems to bend as doors close and the group is forced to relive moments, growing more desperate with each iteration. The loop emphasizes the house’s hunger for secrets and fear, turning escape into an illusion.

💔 Family Tensions

Two families with troubled pasts collide under the house’s influence. Old resentments surface as they chase happiness that remains elusive, exposing cracks in trust and loyalty. The pressure of concealment and protectiveness drives characters toward drastic, sometimes violent, actions. The house exploits these fissures to tighten its grip.

🏚️ Haunted House

The house is an active force, not just a backdrop, feeding on fear and secrets. It manipulates space, time, and perception, presenting traumas as tangible presences and visions. The presence of Hanna and the house’s peculiar demands—like seven cans for seven people—underline that the structure has a will of its own.

🔪 Sacrifice and Violence

The narrative escalates into murder as the house demands sacrifices to sustain itself. Jealousy, guilt, and fear push characters toward brutal acts, from Susan’s death to Hanna’s murder, culminating in a chase where escape remains illusory. The climax reveals the true cost of breaking the cycle and attempting to leave.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:22

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Unlock the Full Story of House Hunting

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House Hunting Summary

Read a complete plot summary of House Hunting, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

House Hunting Summary

House Hunting Timeline

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House Hunting Timeline

House Hunting Spoiler-Free Summary

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House Hunting Spoiler-Free Summary

More About House Hunting

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about House Hunting: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About House Hunting

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